send news tips to the editor; thevoice.fsu@gmail.com | www.issuu.com/fsuvoice 1 February 8, 2012 | ThE VoiCE, For Students. By Students 9
Komen vs. Planned Parenthood
by Shirtey Townsend
Voice Features Editor
Many have supported breast cancer aware
ness programs for years, but the gap between
women and healthcare choices continues to
grow. When will it end?
Last week, the Susan G. Komen foundation
announced it would cease funding to Planned
Parenthood for breast-health services because
of a congressional investigation lead by Rep.
Cliff Steams (R-Fla) into Planned Parent
hood’s use of federal money to fund abortion,
according to The Washington Post.
After the Komen foundation’s announce
ment media reports documented that many
people were stunned and extremely upset.
Public message boards, such as Twitter and
Facebook were the main sources of people ar
guing both for and against the decision. Dis
appointed protestors were immediately active
in the streets.
Komen foundation officials were deluged
with negative e-mail and Facebook posts, ac
cusing it of knuckling under pressure from
anti-abortion groups, according to Today
HealthofMSNBC.com.
Several local organizations affiliated with
the Komen foundation were openly upset,
including all seven in California. In Wash
ington, D.C., Sen. Patty Murray and 24 of
her colleagues signed a letter asking Komen
to reconsider its decision to cut funding for
Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading
sexual and reproductive health care provider,
according to Plannedparenthood.com. How
ever, the controversy surrounding the organi
zation’s support for abortions was at the heart
of many arguments related to the Komen
foundation’s recent announcement.
"It would be tragic if any woman — let
alone thousands of women — lost access to
these potentially lifesaving screenings be
cause of a politically motivated attack, ac
cording to excerpts from a letter written by
several U.S. senators to Komen foundation
officials published on Today’s Health at MS-
NBC.com.
After only three days of public backlash
to the Komen foundation announcement, of
ficials for the organization reversed its deci
sion to cut funding to Planned Parenthood for
breast-health services.
“We will continue to fund existing grants,
including those of Planned Parenthood, and
preserve their eligibility to apply for future
suson c.
Komen
FOR THE cure
grants," said Nancy G.
Brinker, the agency's
ambassador, in a state
ment to MSNBC.com.
“We want to apologize
to the American pub
lic for recent decisions
that cast doubt upon
our commitment to
our mission of saving
women's lives," She
added.
Although many saw the reversal as a victo
ry, others were disappointed with the Komen
foundation’s failure to stand strong against
media criticism, according to The Los Ange
les Times.
“1 am deeply disappointed in the sudden
reversal by the Komen Foundation of their
original pledge to cut ties with Planned Par
enthood — the nation's largest abortion pro
vider,” said Rep. Renee Ellmers R-NC , ac
cording to The HuffingtonPost.com. “Their
original stance to stop funding pending an
important congressional investigation was
an act of courage and prudence, making their
sudden reversal today appear hollow and
weak.”
Many Fayetteville State University stu-
Planned
Parenthood
dents helped support Breast Cancer last se
mester. During the month of October many
organizations and students participated in
Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Another breast
cancer awareness event is scheduled for Feb.
18 at 5 p.m., a Play4Kay basketball game
against Shaw University.
"I think [Susan G. Komen foundation]
should continue to team up with health care
programs because I believe that without
healthcare doctors, wouldn’t be able to give
those who really need the medication in order
to treat and diagnose those who can’t afford
it,” said Derrick Bagley, FSU senior. “The
fact that Planned Parenthood supports abor
tions does not change my outlook on the situ
ation."
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continued from pervious page
$618,900 to increase lifespan by 24 years,
Cornell researcher Bruce R. Schackmen, told
CBS News.com.
However, there is no price to the emotional
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be smart before you start.
RAPID ORAL HIV
TESTING CONTACTS:
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2409 Murchison Road
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(910) 488-6118 ext. 27
www.communityhealthinterventions.org
Cumberland County Health Department
227 Fountainhead Lane
Fayetteville, NC, 28301
(910)433-3781
www.co.cumberland.nc.us/health.asp
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